Driving Torque

It's All About The Motors.

Driving Torque

This is the YouTube page for Driving Torque - Articles, reviews and opinions about cars and all things automotive.
Go to www.drivingtorque.com

Driving Torque
Review by Ben Harrington from Driving Torque of the Suzuki Jimny SZ5
Suzuki Jimny Review
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_tBEwl0WmNRw
Watch as a Model X performs its Celebration Mode Easter egg in the snow
Tesla Model X Celebration Mode
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_Z04UK1MRXjE
This is what the exhaust tail pipe of a Ford Focus RS sounds and looks like when you accelerate quickly.
2017 Ford Focus RS Exhaust
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_QkKOE0J4baE
Another gratuitous exhaust video for you. This time it's the behemoth that is the Mercedes GL63 AMG.
Mercedes-Benz GL63 AMG exhaust sounding immense
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_S7TdJrBe8aw
This is a Porsche Cayman in Sport Plus mode with a Sports exhaust, showing the exhaust revving and moving as the car is put through its paces. Great footage of over-run and even the heat haze from the hot engine.
Porsche Cayman PDK Sport Plus
YouTube Video UCOtVdrU-nsf_4BZwMKZ08NA_8l_WTgJB0sk
Subscribe
  • Home
  • About
  • Ben’s Car CV
  • DTQ Partners
  • Contact

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Milano Edizione 2.0l 280bhp Review

September 18, 2018 by benharrington Leave a Comment

alfa romeo stelvio red front side review roadtest

With even habitual SUV deniers – Ferrari finally caving into popular demand, albeit without being pinned down to any specific date, or decade, Alfa Romeo were always going to add an SUV to their lineup: fact. So here it is, the Stelvio, a name that evokes visions of the famous Northern Italian mountain pass, with its twisty hairpin bends set to a stunning backdrop, even if you’re with the vast majority who’ve never been anywhere near it.

Alfa Romeo Stelvio

But just what type of SUV is the Stelvio, because it’s far too broad a spectrum these days to take a guess at the nature of the vehicle from just a raised ride-height alone. Well, that’s thankfully an easy one to answer. The Stelvio may be available with 4WD (RWD is also an option), and it may feature a token nod towards off-roading in the shape of hill descent control, but make no mistake; Alfa Romeo have designed the Stelvio with road-use in mind. The clue’s in the name – the Stelvio Pass is tarmacced.

alfa romeo stelvio red front review roadtest

Is The Stelvio The Prettiest SUV?

The visual connections to Alfa’s excellent saloon – the Giulia are plain for all to see. That traditional triangular grille and offset registration plate, flanked by some pretty serious looking headlights over lower, gaping air inlets are carried straight over from the saloon, they’re just a bit further from the floor. It’s when you look at the Stelvio from the back that you get its prettiest angle, though. The way the boot-line slopes gently is almost shooting-brake like, reminiscent of the far-from-ugly Ferrari FF, even.

alfa romeo stelvio red side review roadtest

Two Petrols, Two Diesels

Engine choices are pretty simple; there’s a 2.0l petrol in 200bhp & 280bhp guise, and a 2.2l diesel in 190 & 210bhp outputs. All are mated to an 8-speed automatic transmission and the vast majority are 4WD only. If you really want a RWD Stelvio it’ll be the lower powered diesel only; it’s clearly not going to be the one to bring the widest smile to your face but it’ll definitely be the cheapest to run as combined mpg & emissions are 51.4 & 145g/km CO2 respectively. The same setup with 4WD returns 46.3mpg combined & 160g/km CO2.

alfa romeo stelvio red rear side review roadtest

Milano Edizione Stelvio

This is the full-fat 280bhp model in ‘Milano Edizione’ spec, which is undoubtedly one of the coolest names I’ve ever heard attached to a car. 0-60mph comes around in 5.7s & top speed is 143mph; not exactly your usual SUV figures – this is the fastest Stelvio this side of a Quadrifoglio. The engines may all be 4-cylinder units but the burble coming from those louvred exhausts is suggestive, if not overly guttural.

alfa romeo stelvio grille red review roadtest

With performance figures like that, you’d be seriously hoping that the Stelvio’s not just going to topple over at the first sight of a bend. It doesn’t. You navigate the Stelvio via a steering wheel with a relatively small diameter rim by today’s standards, and that suits how precise and tactile the car feels. Every steering input is dealt with in an instant, and if you go for the £1,700 Performance Pack that’s fitted to our test car, you get a Limited Slip Diff and Alfa’s Synaptic Dynamic Control suspension which go towards making the Stelvio’s handling on a par with some sports cars; could it be described as twitchy? – Yes, but you certainly won’t call it lazy.

Stiff Ride

What you might call the Stelvio, though, is stiff, by SUV standards, anyway. The tradeoff for such car-like handling is a suspension setup with very little in the way of give, and our typically scarred roads tend to find you looking for a clear path through the pot-holes.

alfa romeo stelvio rear seats review roadtest

Apple CarPlay & Android Auto Now Standard

Inside the Stelvio is all very familiar to anyone who’s sat in a Giulia. A pair of exaggerated deep-dish binnacles stare at you from behind the flat-bottomed steering wheel, their form even continuing into the dashboard. Other neat little Alfa-esque touches include the arrowhead door handles and you can even have embossed headrests if you like. The infotainment system is integrated into the sweeping fascia and, from this month onwards will include Apple CarPlay and Android Auto as standard fitment. This Milano Edizione comes with the Convenience Pack as standard, giving you rain sensors, keyless entry, a cooled glove box and, perhaps most importantly, an extra pair of USB ports for your little darlings in the rear seats.

alfa romeo stelvio cabin interior review roadtest

Speaking of rear seats, there’s plenty of room in them, they’re just not the most accessible thanks to some relatively little rear doors. Boot-space also suffers due to its beautifully sloping lines. It’s 525 litres, which is big enough for quite a bit of stuff, but you’ll struggle with larger items unless you the rear seats down.

alfa romeo stelvio boot review roadtest

Should I Buy An Alfa Romeo Stelvio?

There are many medium-sized SUVs on the market, and it’s sometimes hard to differentiate. The Stelvio is undeniably on the Sports side of SUV, probably getting closer to the excellent Porsche Macan than anything else thanks to its more car-like setup. The gearbox isn’t faultless, sometimes struggling to make a decision, but if everything was perfect, would this be a real Alfa Romeo?

By Ben Harrington

Alfa Romeo Stelvio Milano Edizione 280bhp Specifications:

Engine – 2.0l 4-cylinder petrol, Layout – Front engine, 4WD, Transmission – 8-speed automatic, Power – 280bhp, Acceleration – 0-62mph – 5.7s, Maximum Speed – 143mph, Maximum Torque – 400Nm, Economy – 51.4 mpg combined, Emissions – 145g/km CO2, Price – £46,490 OTR

The Alfa Romeo Stelvio is available now. For full details go to: www.alfaromeo.co.uk

Filed Under: Driven, Review, Road Test, SUV Tagged With: 4x4, Alfa Romeo, alfa romeo stelvio, macan, Porsche macan, Review, roadtest, stelvio, SUV

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

About Driving Torque

I'm Ben Harrington and I'm a car lover, freelance motoring journalist and family-man (I'll let you decide the order!) I started Driving Torque in 2010 to share my love of all things motoring with the wider world. Since then, … continue reading

Driving Torque’s Instagram Posts

driving_torque

Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the las Got to be honest, I didn’t think much of the last Honda HR-V. This goes back today, though, and I think I’ll miss it. #honda #hondahrv #carsofinstagram
Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day Another highlight from this week’s SMMT Test Day was this; the unashamedly macho Ford Mustang Mach 1. A full review will follow later this year, hopefully. #ford #fordmustang #forduk #carsofinstagram
What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you What do you do when you own two VW vans? Why, you go and drive the latest VW Multivan, of course! The Multivan is not, I repeat, is not based on a van, though. Got it? Good. #vw #volkswagen #notavan #carsofinstagram
Load More... Follow on Instagram

Driving Torque’s Twitter Feed

Ben Harrington Follow

Freelance motoring writer and Editor of Driving Torque. @NGMWcars member. Classic VW owner. Husband and father to a wonderful wife and two amazing young ladies.

DrivingTorque
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
23 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #hybrid

Reply on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Retweet on Twitter 1540033698485133313 1 Like on Twitter 1540033698485133313 Twitter 1540033698485133313
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review #roadtest

Reply on Twitter 1539671061008191492 Retweet on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Like on Twitter 1539671061008191492 1 Twitter 1539671061008191492
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
22 Jun

https://buff.ly/3ObO4Z5 #honda #hrv #review

Reply on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Retweet on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Like on Twitter 1539565356506816514 Twitter 1539565356506816514
drivingtorque Ben Harrington @drivingtorque ·
16 Jun

Anyone struggling on @TicketmasterUK for Taylor Hawkins tribute concert - try following the link from the email they sent you. That just worked for me after over an hour of being thrown out of the site 😃

Reply on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Retweet on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Like on Twitter 1537366165013643264 Twitter 1537366165013643264
Retweet on Twitter Ben Harrington Retweeted
yorkshiremsf Yorkshire Motorsport Festival @yorkshiremsf ·
15 Jun

We’re excited - a little over a week to go until the Yorkshire Motorsport Festival

Tickets still available if you follow the link below👇🏽

https://www.ymsf.net/buy-tickets

#Motorsport #Festival

Reply on Twitter 1536972026304507906 Retweet on Twitter 1536972026304507906 12 Like on Twitter 1536972026304507906 18 Twitter 1536972026304507906
Load More

© 2022 · DrivingTorque.com · Site designed and built by Kobestarr.com